Date:10/06/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/06/10/stories/2006061018300200.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

`Seedball revolution' planned

Staff Reporter

Bangalore: With a view to start a tree-planting drive to make Bangalore more "green", the BCIL-Alt Tech Foundation has initiated a "seedball revolution".

The drive aims at scattering five million "seedballs" before July this year.

According to representatives of the foundation, this is the largest participatory tree planting drive and half a million "seedballs" have been collected.

The organisation is involving corporates, schools, orphanages, autorickshaw drivers' unions, Raj Kumar fans' associations and the general public.

The revolution will harness support from various sections of people in preparing these "seedballs" or simply sponsoring them.

How it is made

A "seedball" is made of clay, which is the size of a large marble.

It contains seeds and can be made by anyone, anywhere, where there is clay, compost, seed and water.

It is a small but powerful gesture of "greening" the barren lands, say the organisation representatives.

Protection for seeds

The concept, inspired by Masanoba Fukuoka, keeps the seed protected from the elements of nature because it does not get blown away. It is protected from foraging animals and birds.